Titanic Era Summer Dress

From the seller:

A beautiful 1912 Edwardian white cotton embroidered dress. The dress is embroidered with a large leaf patter. The centers of the leaves have open work lace. The bodice has a raglan style and long sleeves. The bodice is lined with net lace. The skirt is designed with three tiers and each tier has a scalloped edging. The skirt is lined with net lace. The bodice has a front snap closure and the skirt has a side closure. The dress comes with a separate silk tie belt. The dress is in crisp and clean condition. There is no underarm discoloration and just one tiny pencil tip size hole on the side of the bodice. Bust 32 Shoulders 15 Waist 22 Skirt length 40.

From Me:

I'd actually place it a year or two earlier because of the sleeves. Still, a lovely Edwardian piece!

Late American Civil War Era Dress

From the seller:

A striking 1860’s Civil War era cocoa brown silk one piece dress that has recently been de-accessioned from a museum collection. The bodice and sleeve cuffs are trimmed with pleated olive green velvet trim. The neck, armscyes and waist are piped. The bodice is lined with cotton and has a front button closure. There is one missing button and one extra button that will be included. The skirt is fully lined with cotton. The dress is in very good condition. There is a 5 inch split along the edge of the hemline, a couple of small pea size holes and light soiling in the same area. There is a very slight line of underarm discoloration. A very pretty display dress. Bust 32 Waist 22 Front Skirt length 38 ½ Back length 43.

From Me:

Although the seller says brown, it looks burnt orange to me - which would look AWESOME with the olive green trim. :-) I think this was meant for a petite woman or a young miss give the skirt length - 40" to 42" would be normal over the front of an elliptical hoop.

1920's China Black Jacket

From the seller:

No worries about fit or color--this is large and looks stunning on everyone! Please note that this auction is for the jacket only: Am selling half of Lot 111 from Christie's Sale 2108: The Imperial Wardrobe: Fine Chinese Costume and Textiles from the Linda Wrigglesworth Collection, sold on March 19, 2008 in New York Lot Description A BLACK SATIN WOMAN'S SHORT JACKET, AO EARLY 20TH CENTURY The black satin damask of the jacket woven with wan-fret roundels, lined in an unusual Japanese floral patterned cotton flannel. Jacket 35 in. (89 cm.) long x 46 in. (117 cm.) across Additional notes: I have purposely overexposed the detail shots to show the pattern of the silk, it is not faded or as light as it appears in the flash photo. Main shot is the most accurate. Silk is extremely heavy. Piece is in  excellent condition with no rips, sweat marks, tears, stains, etc. to either the exterior  or lining. Very wearable. Probably never worn. Condition, size, and the oddity of the Japanese lining makes this extremely collectible. Since acquiring  at Christie's, has been carefully stored in acid-free paper and lain flat. I am selling  because my collection has grown too large and, living in NYC,  I can no longer afford the storage space or the extra insurance. My winning bid for this lot was $2,000 plus a substantial buyer's premium. Please e-mail me with any questions. Please click on link below to confirm condition, description, price, and sale date, also background on sale: http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/textiles-costume/a-black-satin-womans-short-jacket-ao-5048845-details.aspx?from=salesummary&intObjectID=5048845&sid=500a5e4e-2128-46ad-91e8-82cf05b06f0c

From Me:

I don't really get a chance to show non-Western clothing often. China, in the 1920's, was at a crossroads. In 1912, the Qing Dynasty fell. It wouldn't be until 1934 that the Long March would take place. A lot of Chinese artifacts from this era were lost during the communist revolution - they burned photographs, traditional textiles, and anything that had the slightest hint to do with the imperial past. The only things that have survived, typically, are in Western hands - mainly British.

Men's (Boy's) Union Suit

From the seller:

Old stock early 1900s white window pane cotton union suit. It has button closures down the front and along the drop seat.
VINTAGE ~ ~ Edwardian, early 20s

LABEL ~ ~~ ~ no label

FABRIC ~ ~~ cotton

MEASUREMENTS ~ ~~ looks to be about a size 8 to 10 ~~ 27 1/2" length, 15" across the chest, 13 1/2" across the waist.

CONDITION ~ ~ Out of an old store. I have 4 of them, some has some dusty/age yellowing, very minor and simply need to be washed. The elastic insert in the legs is no longer stretchy and one of the suits has some spots on the shoulder strap (last photo). They're otherwise in excellent vintage condition.


From Me:

Since a picture says a thousand words, here's one from 1915!

Mid 19th Century Quilted Bonnet

From the seller:

This is a Museum Quality C1800 Antique Hand Quilted Puffy Bonnet in milk chocolate brown silk. It is in absolutely Pristine Condition looking like it was worn very little and was also carefully stored. Actually it looks about as good as the day it was made. This bonnet came out of a collection where it has been. The bonnet dates to the first quarter of the 19th century C1800-1825 or prior I believe and may possibly be Shaker in origin. The brown silk is soft and supple and is not shattering because they did not weight the silk at that time. Later in the Victorian period, silk was weighted and the chemicals that they used helped to disintegrate the fabric. This silk is not weighted so it is still nice and beautiful. The color comes from natural dyes that they used at that time and may have been butternuts. There is one tiny repair that I really really had to look for to find and there is a small tiny hole in the fall. The interior is lined with two shade of brown polished cotton. The entire bonnet is hand stitched and hand quilted. The bonnet is for a woman and it measures 22 1/2' up one side of the front to the other side and about 10" deep. A matching ribbon bow trims the back. This bonnet is as near to pristine condition as you are going to get for a 200 year old bonnet and is a rare find in this condition. Please note, the bonnet is DARKER in color in real life. The photos were taken in full sun so all the detailing would show in the pictures, and the sun tends to lighten the color. Please ask questions if I have not included something in the description that is important for you to know.

From Me:

This is sort of the knit cap of the 19th C in many ways. The style was popular through most of the 19th Century. However, the way this one is cut, and that cute little bow on the back, make me think this is more 1850's.

Droolable Teens Era White Silk & Lace Dress

From the seller:

QUEEN OF THE FAIRIES ENCHANTS you with this VERY STRONG AND STURDY Edwardian era wedding or dinner dress. Usually silk this old is very fragile, but this fabric is very strong showing no weakness. It is not dry and brittle, it is beautiful silk satin, a nice weight to it. The dress has layers as you can see. Starting with the bodice there is a silk satin camisole, lace trimmed which is then covered with a full bodice of netting which has the chantilly lace of the bodice attached to it. Then the silk satin cummerbund, and the exquisite tape lace collar which has fancy net insets (see closeup photos). Wonderful silk flowers and leaves garland across one side of the tape lace collar. The dress is built upon a grosgrain petersham which is covered or faced in the satin silk. See inside photos. The skirt is of the matching silk with chantilly lace side pieces. A "train" hangs down the center front and a matching bow and tails hangs down the backside of the dress. There are many layers of snaps and hooks/eyes, all strong and well attached. Look to the inside photos, there is no underarm damage, the gossamer sleeves are intact and sturdy. Overall near perfect. All to fault is a bit of the tiniest bit of speckles, tiny and just one shade darker than the silk (again see photos), never to bother anyone when worn, the dress will bowl people over. These are upon the front train, see photos. The dress is otherwise amazing, no underarm discoloration, no odors. No tears, no need of repairs. The dress is sturdy and wearable. The dress is a bit larger than your usual 22/24 inch waist, see measurements below. You may find upon close inspection one or two minor pin holes/fabric flaws like all old fabric develops, but no large holes or tears to distract, this is in excellent condition, see all the many large photos below... Look to my store to see my other unique items.


APPROXIMATE MEASUREMENTS:
In Inches


BUST 36



WAIST 26



HIP full



LENGTH 52
(From Shoulder to Hem)


From Me:

Probably about 1916 or so. The little floral ribbon detail will be a big hit in the next decade. :-) Also, I think I need to make this dress.

Lovely Simple American Civil War Era Cotton Dress

From the seller:

A charming 1860’s cotton print dress. The fabric has a burgundy stripe pattern on a cream colored background. The bodice has a dropped shoulder line that is trimmed with two layers of small ruffles. The neck and sleeve cuffs are trimmed in the same manner. The armsyces and waist are piped. The bodice is lined with cotton and has a front button closure. There is one missing button. The skirt is unlined. The dress is in good condition. It has not been cleaned so there is an area of light age discoloration on the side of the skirt. (See Photo.) There is one 4 inch mend in this same area. There are also a few other pea size age spots and one a few small pea size holes in the skirt. A sweet display dress. Bust 34 Waist 24 ½ Skirt length 39 ½ Width at hemline 134.

From Me:

I'm thinking about 1864 for this one, give or take a year.